Livingston Co Mo
			Dec     / 63

	Dear Janie
	                   I have not
written to you for a long time, but
you must not think that I have
forgotten your kind letter_ no indeed
Janie but I have had my fall sewing
to do, and have not had the benefit
of your sewing machine, as I had
last fall_ Well Janie another year
has passed; and none of you have
been to see me, I did think when I
left you last fall that I surely
would see some of you in less than
a year, Well I hope some of you will
get to Missouri next year _ _
    Christmas is almost here, and
the little ones are already [crossed out] [making]

wondering what Kriss Kringle
will put in their stockings, John
says he does wish he could go to 
Aunt Josephine's he thinks they will
have a christmas tree, you wrote to
us that you had one last year, and
he has not forgotten it,_ I hope you
will all have a merry time, I would 
like so much to spend the hollidays
with you [crossed out] [so much] we have had a
very pleasant fall, indeed it has been
too dry, we have had but little rain
in the last nine months the crops
were very poor, water has been very
scarce, we all depend on cistern wells
so our wells have been dry a good
portion of the summer. [illegible] has
hauled water 2 or 3 miles, so you
may know I had to be very saving
of that article, did not use much
in the way of washing and scouring
Our folks here are all well now. 

Nans eyes still trouble her some
[Doct?] has given up the idea of going
to Philadelphia to attend lectures
my opinion is that he intends to
commence a course of Curtain lecture
instead of medical, soon, they are all
mighty busy over that way, as the
children say, there must be something
up, I think it is time some of the
family would get married, if they ever
intend to, our little John says he dont 
know what it is to get married he .
wishes some person would get married
so he could see them, he says tell
Janie he would like to go to your.
house now, and stay till after new
years, and little Jimmy says he
would like to go too, they talk a
great deal about all of your family
and Aunt Martha's they want me
to ask you how little Walter Allen
is and if he is growing fast. our

boys have grown very much the
last year Johnny looks delicate but
he has grown taller, Jimmy is fat
and hearty, he can scarcely wear the
little pants your Ma gave him _ _ 
Janie you say that Janie Peabody was
in St Louis, was she teaching there?
you spoke too of Libbie Newkirk
having been gone some time you
must tell me where she has been so
long, and you must tell me how
your Aunt Jane is getting along remem
ber me to her, do his sisters still live
with them_ Tell [Hat?] Ella & Mary
that I want them all to write to
me, though I have not forgotten
that I owe them letters, but they
dont have to make, mend, wash,
iron and cook for a whole family_
let me hear from you soon give my love
to Father, Mother, brothers and the new sister
and keep a good share your_self Mary [J Gish?]